Father Phil is off on his new adventures in retirement. We as a Parish are also embarking on new adventures.
This page is where you will find information and links to the New Rector Search Committee's work as we go through this process. This page gives you contact information for the Search Committee. Periodic updates of the search status can be found on the Search Committee News page.
This page is where you will find information and links to the New Rector Search Committee's work as we go through this process. This page gives you contact information for the Search Committee. Periodic updates of the search status can be found on the Search Committee News page.
The Search Committee has been chosen by the Vestry and given a formal charge for their work in assisting to call a new Rector for Church of the Holy Spirit. All members are available to answer questions or address concerns during this process. Please be understanding that there may be times when we cannot reveal information for confidentiality. All questions will be presented to the committee, and when appropriate, to the Vestry.
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Search Committee Members:
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All Search Committee members can be identified by the pin they wear - a white dove descending with a red flame.
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The Search Process
“Calling” is Not “Hiring”! The best calls happen when the Holy Spirit is part of the process. We remind our communities that seeking new clergy leadership is a spiritual process, not an executive search, and we encourage our congregations to be open to God’s imagination as they seek new spiritual leaders. Trends in Transition Ministry: An Invitation to the Church, www.episcopalchurch.org/ministries/transition-ministry/
The search process begins with a charge by the vestry to the members of the Search Committee. The committee will develop a parish profile which provides a a picture of our congregation - who we are right now, how we worship, minister to others, and our hopes for the future. The profile is combined with demographic data of Church of the Holy Spirit to create our Community Portfolio for the Office of Transition Ministry.
Once approved by the Vestry, our portfolio will be forwarded to the Diocesan Transition Officer. The Diocesan Transition officer for review and posting on the various Episcopal clergy call sites. The Diocese vets each application before forwarding it to Church of the Holy Spirit.
The Search Committee will then prayerfully review each application, conduct interviews, and select up to 3 candidates. These will be submitted to the Vestry for the final decision. Our choice for new Rector will be submitted to the Bishop for a final review. The call (or offer) is made by the Bishop to the candidate.
In order to find the best possible candidate, this process will take some time. We ask that everyone be patient and pray for the members of the Search Committee and Vestry as we undertake this responsibility.
Once approved by the Vestry, our portfolio will be forwarded to the Diocesan Transition Officer. The Diocesan Transition officer for review and posting on the various Episcopal clergy call sites. The Diocese vets each application before forwarding it to Church of the Holy Spirit.
The Search Committee will then prayerfully review each application, conduct interviews, and select up to 3 candidates. These will be submitted to the Vestry for the final decision. Our choice for new Rector will be submitted to the Bishop for a final review. The call (or offer) is made by the Bishop to the candidate.
In order to find the best possible candidate, this process will take some time. We ask that everyone be patient and pray for the members of the Search Committee and Vestry as we undertake this responsibility.
Prayer for the Search Committee and Vestry
Lord of wisdom and fortitude, give us patience, resilience and the knowledge of your prescense during this time of discernment. Bring forth a rector full of grace to bestow your words among us. May the Lord bless us and keep us along this journey. Amen.
Meet the Search Committee
The Church of the Holy Spirit Search Committee is made up of lay members of our Parish. Rex van Veldhuisen is the committee chair and Andy Follansbee is the Vestry Representative.
Rex van Veldhuisen, Committee Chair - Rex A. van Veldhuisen – Has been an Episcopalian for 35 years but, he was raised in the Dutch Reformed Church tradition as all his ancestors were since the 16th century.
Rex and his wife chose the Episcopal Church as their family’s faith community so that nothing would come between them; it is the via media, the middle way, between the two faith denominations (Dutch Reformed & Roman Catholic).
They attended St. David’s (of Wales) Episcopal Church in Cranbury, New Jersey and learned the smells, bells and calisthenics of the Episcopal Church from The Very Rev. Lawrence D. Fish and Fr. Harry Brandt. At St. David’s he was a Vestry member, Junior Warden, choir, licensed lay reader and delegate to Diocesan Convention. In many ways St. David’s and Church of the Holy Spirit are very similar, warm, caring, committed to the community, so transferring to this congregation was easy.
The church is a very present focus for him in aspects of community, faith, history and service. He is involved with the Rector Search Committee, The Endowment Fund, Theology on Tap and Chior.
When not involved in church affairs you can find Rex living out 18th century history as a member of His Majesties 17th Regiment of Foot in America, Scouting, traveling, driving a tractor, buying history books, researching family history or having a pint at the local pub.
Rex and his wife chose the Episcopal Church as their family’s faith community so that nothing would come between them; it is the via media, the middle way, between the two faith denominations (Dutch Reformed & Roman Catholic).
They attended St. David’s (of Wales) Episcopal Church in Cranbury, New Jersey and learned the smells, bells and calisthenics of the Episcopal Church from The Very Rev. Lawrence D. Fish and Fr. Harry Brandt. At St. David’s he was a Vestry member, Junior Warden, choir, licensed lay reader and delegate to Diocesan Convention. In many ways St. David’s and Church of the Holy Spirit are very similar, warm, caring, committed to the community, so transferring to this congregation was easy.
The church is a very present focus for him in aspects of community, faith, history and service. He is involved with the Rector Search Committee, The Endowment Fund, Theology on Tap and Chior.
When not involved in church affairs you can find Rex living out 18th century history as a member of His Majesties 17th Regiment of Foot in America, Scouting, traveling, driving a tractor, buying history books, researching family history or having a pint at the local pub.
Andy Follansbee, Vestry Representative - I am 67 years old, I have been attending CHS over 31 years.
I am the son of a big Methodist minister, who served some of the biggest churches in North Jersey. My Dad was a Big man on campus in college and in the towns in the churches he served.
As a kid, all my friends, of any denomination, joined in with our youth group, traveling on retreats or just meeting on Sunday evenings.
I went to a Methodist college, where I earned a BS in Economics, and have worked in Information Technology for AT&T for more or less, 40 some odd years, having been brought in by my knowledge of programming and Accounting. I met Carolyn Moynihan, the love of my life through work, as she was a sales person selling to AT&T. I had been a grouchy Batchelor until I met Carolyn, at which point, I changed my life plan. We have been married for 31 years, have two adult sons, and have built a lovely life together.
I love the Church of the Holy Spirit and was very concerned about how and whom a new rector would be selected. I was fortunate enough to find my way into the Search Committee, hoping so much that we could find the best rector to follow Fr Phil and keep this wonderful parish serving our mission.
I am the son of a big Methodist minister, who served some of the biggest churches in North Jersey. My Dad was a Big man on campus in college and in the towns in the churches he served.
As a kid, all my friends, of any denomination, joined in with our youth group, traveling on retreats or just meeting on Sunday evenings.
I went to a Methodist college, where I earned a BS in Economics, and have worked in Information Technology for AT&T for more or less, 40 some odd years, having been brought in by my knowledge of programming and Accounting. I met Carolyn Moynihan, the love of my life through work, as she was a sales person selling to AT&T. I had been a grouchy Batchelor until I met Carolyn, at which point, I changed my life plan. We have been married for 31 years, have two adult sons, and have built a lovely life together.
I love the Church of the Holy Spirit and was very concerned about how and whom a new rector would be selected. I was fortunate enough to find my way into the Search Committee, hoping so much that we could find the best rector to follow Fr Phil and keep this wonderful parish serving our mission.
Pat Egan - I have been a member of CHS for 30 years. I grew up in the Episcopal church and my entire family life revolved around church. (Holy Cross Episcopal in North Plainfield). My mother was the church secretary, my dad served as Warden multiple times, and from an early age, I sang in the choir. Throughout the years, the church has provided me with a strong foundation and courage to carry on; allowing me to question and trust my God.
Quite simply, I love my church!
Quite simply, I love my church!
Wendy Hallstrom has been a member of CHS for over 30 years. She and her husband, Kevin, raised their daughters (now adults) at Holy Spirit. Her children were baptized and confirmed at Holy Spirit and participated in many parish activities. Wendy has been involved with all aspects of formation (adult, children, teens, VBS), served on Vestry and is the parish calligrapher. Holy Spirit has provided extended family for the Hallstroms' as their birth families are spread all over the country. Wendy is a retired engineer with a second career as an artist and art instructor, and enjoys reading, gardening and painting.
Marge Keller - I have been a member of Church of the Holy Spirit since October 1985. During theses 39 years, my family and I have known Holy Spirit as our second home, our second family. I could recount the many times that someone from this church has intervened in our lives, saying or doing the right thing at the right time or by simply being there. Seeing this church move on with a new rector; new, maybe different, vision that will carry us into the future is imperatively important to me. I am often asked why I go to church; my response is usually ‘to recharge my batteries’. I may not recall specifics of a sermon or service but the spirit, the energy, is what keeps me going until the next time I come to connect with God in a community of friends who have come for the same purpose. I feel honored to be called to serve on the Search Committee and I take that responsibility very seriously and prayerfully. It is my hope that the person we collectively call to be our new rector will fulfil the needs and wants of the congregation; to help us continue our spiritual growth; to foster our in-reach and out-reach legacy as we grow in the Spirit to fulfill our mission.
Jane Paradiso - Jane Paradiso has been a member at Church of the Holy Spirit for 18 years. She came here after the closure of Christ Church, Three Bridges ( a church plant of the Diocese). She participates in the We Care, LEM and Reader, Auction, Good Friday Day of Service and Breakfast ministries. Jane is honored to be part of the Search Committee to help our church move forward in a strong and positive way with the installment of a new rector. For Jane, the people of CHS are the best part of her church experience.
Alison Schnaudt - Alison Schnaudt lives in Whitehouse Station with her husband Dave and their two sons Luke (13) and Erik (10). Alison and Dave were married in an Episcopal church (St John’s, Somerville) 20 years ago. They’ve moved around quite a bit (NJ, PA, Belgium) but would search for a church they could be a part of wherever they lived. The Schnaudts started coming to CHS about 5-6 years ago; they were attracted to CHS because of its youth group and also its commitment to outreach. Alison is a full-time stay-at-home mom, a part-time math tutor, and the chairperson of the Readington schools’ Fine and Performing Arts Committee. She’s honored to be a part of the search committee and will do her best to help find the perfect new rector for CHS.
Anne Simpson - This marks the 35th year our family have been members of Church of the Holy Spirit. Our children, Chris and Caroline, were baptized at CHS, and we raised them along with the plethora of other children of the time. I have been senior warden, Sunday school teacher, auction chair, youth adviser and even the Easter bunny! I have been the recipient of Phillip's stellar pastoral care which helped me through some bumps in my life. I am so grateful to be a member of this caring community.
Lindsay Wyglendowski and her family began attending CHS in 2015. She currently leads the Children’s Formation and Youth Group activities. Lindsay and Chris homeschool their children, Lily (13) and Evan (8), and enjoy hiking, camping, triathlon, and reading together. Lindsay is also the bookkeeper for their family real estate businesses which include rentals, home buy/renovate/resale, and Chris’ agent services. Lindsay grew up eventing horses in Old Lyme, CT and still teaches and examines within the United States Pony Club.